Sarah Hunt

Online Copywriter, johnlewis.com

24 Oct 13

Halloween grows in popularity each year with children eager to get dressed up, create a spooky atmosphere and seek out things that go bump in the night - it’s a legitimate excuse to be a little monster!

Start your party as you mean to go on by making a memorable first impression. Create a spooky front door or porch and greet your guests in full fancy dress, and don’t forget to practise your scary voice. Take a witch’s house as your inspiration; add pumpkins and cobwebs and prop an old broomstick against the wall. Hang a battered haunted house sign at the entrance to give your guests a clue as to what they’re letting themselves in for. Getting your front door ready is also a great way to encourage trick-or-treaters

There’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with carved Jack-O-Lanterns. However, carving pumpkins can be tricky and time consuming, so why not collect craft essentials like paints, googly eyes and other craft items and let the kids create their own spooky masks - just as effective and no need for messy carving. You can even make it an activity or competition for your guests when they arrive. To enhance the theme don’t forget the detail. The Le Creuset Petite Pumpkin Casserole dish is ideal for dips, snacks or individual portions of creepy treats and will look fantastic on the party table!

When it comes to decorations, you can’t go wrong with orange and black, creepy spiders, pumpkins and skeletons. Black cardboard is a must; use it to create bats, cats and rats! String your shapes together in garlands, hang them from the ceiling or hide one or two in a creepy corner. Then turn down the lights and cast an eerie glow with these orange pumpkin lights. Then create a haunted house effect with spooky cobwebs and a scary sound track. Once the guests have arrived, turn down the lights and tell a spooky story, complete with gruesome artefacts; pass around a bowl of cooked spaghetti and knock a pair of shoes together to recreate witch’s hair and ominous footsteps.

If you’re hosting the party you’ve got to get dressed up. If you’re going to be running around and getting things organised it’s best to choose something simple. A strange pair of glasses or a fake moustachewill create their own weird looks. If you’re pushed for time, we’ve got a range of readymade costumes for the kids that couldn’t be easier. Choose from a pretty princess or maybe something a little spookier? Or why not create your own? Add faux fur to a simple mask to create a unique costume. Pipe cleaner whiskers and a felt tail will instantly create a creepy cat or customise a pair of gloves with matching fur to transform into a scary werewolf.

However, if the kids have had their fill of sugar, why not add in a spooky surprise instead? If you’re looking for something a little bigger Lego’s Monster Fighters range is ideal. Choose from a range of classic horror characters including a werewolf, mummy and vampire. Alternatively, ghouls rule at Monster High. This range of dolls are dressed up in range of spooky guises; including Clawdeen Wolf and Frankie Stein.